Can



llg- 15, 1932- w. H. HEGENBERGER 1,872,585

CAN

Filed Aug. 3, 1931 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 \7IllIrI[A1V.[r I-I. HEGENBERGER, 0F HARTFORD, CO'N'NECTICUT,` ASSIGNOROF ONE-FOURTH PATENT OFFICE l T'O JAN P. CLARY, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT cAN Application led August 3, 1931. Serial No. 554,897.

y This invention relates to improvements in cansand the invention comprises an opening device attached permanently tothe 'can top, said opening device having an extensible handlev which may be moved to an unfolded position when it is desired to open the can and which may be moved to its folded position when the cans are storedor packed in receptacles.

The invention further comprises securing` the opening device for the can 1n apermanent fashion so that the can will be hermetically sealed and the device will 1n no way interrupt -the shape or contour of the can top wherebyl the stacking of the cans in a.

packing box will not be hindered.l

A primary object of'this inventionis -to provide a deviceA ofthe above mentioned character permanently` attached to a canwhich may be operated in-a simpley and'easy fashion without the requirementV of a-ddltional instruments or tools intended for the purpose of opening cans.

- A sun further Obj-ea of this'invenaomis to provide an attachment ofthe above mentioned character adapted to be positioned below the horizontal level f the'upper edgesV of the can in order to dispose the opening device out of the path of other objects or cans.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, forming a part of the specification and invwhich, Figure 1 is a top elevation of one embodiment of theinvention showing the opening device permanently secured to thecan illustrating the manner in which themhandle is pivoted to the rotarv plate;

Y Figure 2 is a side elevation of a can showing the invent-ion applied to the top; partly broken away to illustrate in detail the man-k ner in'which the cutting element is positioned relative to the cantop;

Figure 3 is a vert-ical cross-sectional view through a can having an'opening device in accordance with the invention; Y Figure'c. is an end elevation of the opening device showing the same removed'from' they cutting element;

can top and illustrating the channel-way for receiving the pivoted handle;

Figure 5 is a top elevational view of the can opening device showing the same de'- tached from the can enlarged to'illustrate the structural detail;

' Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the opening deviceillustratingthe pivoted handle and the manner in which the same may be folded or unfolded;`

` Figure 7 is a bottom elevation illustrating in dotted lines, the side flanges and the contour of the cutting member or knife;

'Figure 8 is a modied form of openingv device adapted to be applied to a can topv in a permanent fashion, having a different form Ef knife or' cutter on'the end ofthe pivoted ar; l n 4 'Figure 9is a fragmentary top elevation enlarged to illustrate more clearly the con; struction of the modified form o'f knifevor Figure lO'is a side elevation of the bar enlarged and partly broken away to further illustrate the modified form of cutting knife or disk;

Figure 11 is a-bottom elevational view of the modified device `illustrat-ing further the manner in which the end of the pivoted bar is formed to allow the projection of the disk or cutting member.

' In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same` `the reference 'character 10 will generally be employed to designate a can of usualy construction havingv a top or cover 11 pressed 11 is stamped so that the plain lsurface thereof is below the horizontal level of the open edge of the can which is the usual construction employed in '.connectionwith present day packingcans or tins. l

" The'invention comprises an elongated bar y ze 13 having `tapered side iianges 14V extending e upwardly anda downwardly extending projection l5 at one end to form a cutting knife having a curved cutting edge 16. The lower portion of the cutting knife terminates in a point and When the elongated bar 13 is secured to the can top 11 by means of a rivet 17 passing through an opening in the can and .an opening 18 in the elongated bar 13, the cuttingdinife 15Willbe received in..a recess portiorn19bt tliefcanrtop 11 l"as more clearly illustrated in Figure 3. If desired, a cutting knife 15 may be formed on each endA of the ekmgadibbrf 13'and :the :can topfllmayf-be provided With oppositel-frecesses=19 Afl-ferr the rivet 17 has been passed through the can top 11 and the elongated bar 13, the same may be soldered from the inside of the can around the edges as at20to hermetica'lly seid thecanandexelude air` therefroma. Y

' A folding handleis pivotallyfsecuredlto. the` elongated bari 13vk and V.it `is r-intendedato positionlthe.ffoldiiighandle 21 between theside flanges :14. of the `.elongated kbar-.Lin orderf that a pivot Qmay pass:,thiough..the flanges and through `oneendof the folding hmdl'eQl` l Instead` of employing` a. 4pivot.- piIL 22,2one endfofthe folding handle 21 may, be provided Ewithlprojections.ifon beingne- Y ceivedinopenings in the side flangesali inrdehthatthe foldinggh'andle` 21 :m ay hin geand 'extend'outwardly ,beyond-- the ,peripheryof thescalaglO` asiillustrated .in,;dotted ,lines 3Q iI-:vlgure Oneend. offthe -.elo'ngatedplate` 13, may, be .providedfivithverticali lugs. 24. .for e Y`thelongitldiiial'edges,.of ther-folds.. ing handle 21 When the same is in open posi; tion whereby alllofthestrain Willz-,notbsat 35, the pivot .point-lwhenspthe., vhandle 221.1.isi operated to cause the'.:cuttir'igf,knifa15`.4 td move'in a circle adjacent the iedge`12 Lof-fthe canfaround thepivot point 17.1".

'l.he.desc1tiption..thus fan has been directed more fparticularlyto `Figures ..1 to v7inclusivleL of the drawing and now attention is directed tor Figures 8, 9,. 10fand,l1,.more particularly, wherein i .isz illustrated l a mo difie'daform `of:V theriliventio'n` u Iii the modified fdrnrof theainventienrthe: can 1()"is` of 'the same construction?:as the Caniillustrated ilLFigures. 1 Qiandl ,andfis' providdlwithithe sameforni of cover or-...top. 1I" as( at :12", The ielongatedbanv., isgprofr., 5g, vided 'witl'sideanges 14jvhichtaper-frbm. one 4end lof thefelonfgatedfbarl?) tosthewotherw. Tlegdifilence iirconstruction between;.the brilj and theelongated fbar..13 .is thatene end-is cutout as at-lltoreceive a dislrcuttin'gI 56, elementllffpivotally Yheld to .the ,elongated br/'lby'imeans .of a .pivot-pin fasat 17/ Theelwatedvlbar131.islpivotallyfsecured tothe,Canftoplll"v by means .of asrivet-i17z.r andjnay bezsolde'red in place asataQOffaf/ter 60, th elongated bar 13 has.beenpivoted there-x,

to. In itheafornr of inventionlilliistrated-in Iigigres; 9,r-10fand f1 1,-"th'e1- disllcutting, ele.- ment .1655 is-receizvedf in.v a depressiom.1917 f'nnedfin .the cantopll.

Pifotail'ly Secured. '.betQWeenzA then tapering.;

flanges 14 and the elongated bar 13 is a folding handle 21 pivoted to the side flanges as at 22. The handle may be folded outwardly in the ,same manner as the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive and lugs.. 2i.A are formed ononeiend ofthe-elongatedibar `for the Acc-passage of th'e :handle 21 when the same is in its extended or unfolded position.

Ifllsiiedga cutting rollerfniayfbe-pivl oteelftoeaelrendoffth'e elongated bar 21 in order to quickly cut the can top 11 in a'circle about the pivot point 17.

In operation, uthaoperator merely unfolds the handle 21andholds the can 10 in a stationaryfmanner-i .turni-ngv the .handle f 21 with thefright handfandinove :ther-disk cutter f or the-cutter -15 in i afcirele about the pivot .point 17. Aftertheycirclefhasebeencompleted, the canv top 111 fandill 'may-be easily f removed andfthe contents of -.the Ivcan 10 Jmayfbe -.disY penseel .from thefinteriorfthereof. .i

AIt is tobexunderstoodv.that-various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of .parts mayL be-Lresortedto Without departing from ther-spirit of'ftheinventionlor-.the scope .of the suhejoinedclaims.

Irlclailnzf- 1l An attachment. for atanV` eomprisingaanelongated..bar :havingg-vertical. side flanges, a pivot pin passing ,through the,Y elongated bar central-ly;4 andfthroughthesean. top ,n .a :cutting element Krigidlysecured: -to .one vvend of the elongateel-baryzadapted :to bespresentedfin a recessin.thefcan,-.top, and-anroperating. handle pivotally secured. bet-weenxthe sideV Jianges of thel-elongatedfbar., Y

2. A permanent attachment for arcanI comi-1y prisingganelongated ban-havingwertical. side flanges, alpivotipin passing centrally'through thexv ban 1andy#th-roughf,theL can top, .aicutting element ,axed tozone. end fof, the elongated barand 'lane operatinglhandle .pivotally \se curedbetvveenthe vertical flanges ofthe elon-y gated bar, whereby the bar may be folded to a VLpositionlbelovvf- .the -ilevelV *off the can top;

3. Alpermanentan opening; 'attachment foi: i receptacles) comprisinglan elongated bar pivotallysecu-red totheltop of thereceptacle, vertiealfside flanges formed .fon the longitudiiial nedges ofthe elongated bar, -a 4cutting element aiiiX'edto, one end of the elongated bar, said .'cutt'ingelements being adapted tov be received "in'a'depr'ession" formed `in the can top, and .a pivotedfoperating'handle' .secured between'thefvertical'flanges of the elongated ybary 'whereby 'the lsame` 'may be folded orfunfol'dedf' Y 4.1"A-f'can' topfstructure ofthe character described, comprising a-disk having a marginal angulartflangefsaid flangey 'being adapted to be; folded ovenfzthe y'supper fedge .ofla .can, a pivoted bar havingverticaly side angesron' the :longitudinaledges fthereof, sairl barbeingf1 pivotally; fseeuredr: to the fcan4 .top at a.

GLS

central point thereof whereby the bar will lie below the horizontal surface of the mar-v ginal ange, a cutting element on one end of the elongated bar, said cutting element.

, being adapted to be presented in a recess portion in the Cover, and a pivoted lhandleV mounted between the vertical anges on the longitudinal edges of the elongated bar.

5. A can cover construction of the characterl described, comprising a circular cover having a marginal flanged portion, a pivoted bar' having side anges on the longitudinal edges thereof, a pivot pin passing centrally through the elongated bar and through the central portion of the can top, a cutting element on one end of the elongated bar adapted to be received in a depression in the can top, a' pivoted handle mounted between the vertical flanges of the longitudinal edges of the elongated bar whereby the handle may be folded below the level of the marginal flanges on the can cover.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

"WILLIAM I-I. I-IEGENBERGER. 

